Framing for automobiles.



F. E. WARNER. FRAMING FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1915.

Patentad Apr. 16,1918.

srirs arn? FREDERICK E. WARNER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

FRAMING- FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application filed June 1, 1915. Serial No. 31,411.

Framings for Automobiles, of which the.

following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to an improved framing for automobiles, and more particularly to an attachment which may be readily secured to the frame-work of the well-known Ford machine, whereby the supporting structure of the runningboards and fenders will be materially strengthened and stiffened, and yielding of the running-boards and rattling of the fenders willbe eliminated to a great extent.

The invention as applied to a Ford is illustrated in the annexed drawings,wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of so much of an automobile as is necessary to an understanding of the invention, some parts being omitted and others broken away;

Fig. 2 a transverse section, on the line 22, Fig. 1, showing the running-boards, the frame and the various connecting members, the car-body being omitted;

Fig. 3 a like view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 a perspective view of one of the struts.

As is well understood, many of the modcrate-priced cars of today are relatively light, and this is true of the Ford construction; as a consequence, theparts yield to a greater or less extent under pressure, as for instance, the running-board when the weight of a person comes thereon. Said boards, as well as the fenders, vibrate to a considerable extent when the car is running,

and inasmuch as the fenders are attached to the running-boards and the car body, there is, in addition to the vibration and consequent rattling, a tendency to tear the connections between the parts loose.

The structure or device which forms the basis of the present invention is such that it does away with these evils and, furthermore, may be readily applied to a car without the slightest alteration or changes therein. In the drawings: 1 denotes the car body, 2 the running-boards, 3 the wheel guards or fenders, and 4 the fender extending upwardly and inwardly from the runningboard to the body. The various fenders and running-board, upon each side of the machine, are all interconnected, the wheel fenders merging into the running-board'and the body-fender 4.- extending from the body 1 to the inner edge of the'running-board.

'The frame of the chassis is denoted by 5,

secured to and extending downwardlyand outwardly therefrom on each side is a pair of arms 6 havingv outward extensions 7,

being shown in section in Figs. 2 and 3,and V upon which the running-boards 2 are secured. The oppositely-disposed pairs of arms are connected at their lower endsby the rods 8, the rods passing through ears or lugs 9 extending downwardly from the point of junction between the arms 6 and extensions 7. The construction thus outlined is of the usual Ford build.

To prevent give and rattle in the parts, and consequent wear, I have devised a strut or brace which may be readily secured in place without the slightest alteration in the machine, and which, while being light and inexpensive is highly efficient. The strut is preferably formed from a single piece of metal. bar, preferably square in cross-section, bent to form, and comprising a central base section 10, upwardly and out wardly-inclined arms 11, and downwardly and outwardly inclined fingers 12. v

The parts are so proportioned thatwhen the base 10 rests upon the rod 8 each finger 12 contacts with the under side of the adjacent arm 6, and the strut is secured in place by U-clips l3.

Inasmuch as rod 8 at the rear of the machine, Fig. 3, lies a greater distance from frame 5 than the forward rod, I preferably make the base 10 of the rear strut slightly shorter than that of the forward strut, in order that the bar stock may be cut to the same length for both struts.

With struts thus positioned, the parts are so connected and tied together that vi bration, at least to any harmful extent, is eliminated, while the giving of the running-board under the weight of a person is done away with and the consequent strains which tend to pull the fenders loose are eradicated. Thus, when a person steps'upon the running-board, end thrust or movement of rod 8 is prevented, the near arm 11 holding the rod against endwise movement. The opposite arm 11 also assists in holding the rod 8 against movement, the near arm acting as a pull or tension brace, while the far or opposite arm 11 takes up the thrust. The tie rod 8 is also prevented from buckling.

It is, of course, conceivable that instead of making the strut in a single piece it might be divided or made in two pieces; that is to say, instead of having the base piece continuous, it maybe divided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1". In an automobile, the combination of a frame; a pair of outwardly and clownwardly inclined arms extending from each side thereof; runningboards supported by said arms; a tie-rod connecting the lower ends of said arms in pairs; and a brace extending from the upper portion of each arm, said brace exteneing inwardly and downwardly and being secured to the tie rod, adjacent the mid-length thereof.

2. In an automobile, the combination of a frame; a pair of outwardly and downwardly inclined running board supporting arms; a tie-rod connecting the lower ends of'said arms; and a brace or strut comprising a base member secured to the tie-rod, a pair of upwardly and outwardly inclined arms, and a finger on the end of each arm, said fingers being secured to the runningboard arms adjacent their upper ends.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a brace for the rimning-board and fender- Copies of this patent may be obtained for supports of an automobile, comprising a base member; a pair of upwardly extending, divergent arms; and a downwardly and outwardly inclined finger formed as an extension of the upper end of each arm, the brace. being produced from a single piece of metal stock bent to form.

t. In an automobile, the combination of a frame; outwardly and downwardly inclined arms extending from each side thereof; running boards supported by said arms; a tie-rod connecting'the lower ends of said arms; and a brace extending from the upper portion of each arm, said brace extending inwardly and downwardly and being secured to the tie rod adjacent the midlength thereof.

5. The combination with an automobile frame, brackets secured to and extending downwardly and outwardly from the sides of the frame; a truss rod connecting the lower ends of: said brackets, and runningboards carried by the lower ends of said brackets of trussbraces secured to the truss rod and to said brackets.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name'to this specification in the presence of two subscribing-witnesses.

FREDERICI E. XVARNER.

VV'itnesses F. A. SMITH, in,

M. T. LONGDEN'.

Washington," D. G." 

